Great Britain Names Its Alpine Team for the 2026 Olympic Season

Roy Steudle, Kitzbühel GEPA pictures

GB Snowsport Names 33 Athletes, Including Six for World Cup Squad

While Dave Ryding headlines the selection—having confirmed he will race one more season—the inclusion of Roy Steudle, Britain’s top-ranked speed skier, marks the biggest shift and story. Steudle finished in the top 30 in the Saalbach World Championships super-G and narrowly missed scoring points in Kitzbühel. His selection, therefore, reflects the hard work he has put in to earn this opportunity.

Men’s World Cup Speed Team

Upon his selection, Steudle said: “Whilst I am grateful for the acknowledgment of my performances over the previous season, the criteria for the World Cup team is clearly set out in the selection process. Consequently, my nomination is of no surprise to me. I am thankful to the decision drivers within GBS (Snowsport) for the mitigation of discretionary decision making in the nomination process, as historically this has been detrimental to me.”

He added: “Meritocracy should be protected. I need to continue to work as hard as possible, as I am aware my spot in competitions is not secure, nor should it be. Being a member of the national team neither makes me faster nor slower, nor does it really affect my ability to enter races. To me specifically, the situation is different for the slalom team. It serves as a symbol of recognition of accomplishment based on predefined criteria, nothing more.”

At 31, Steudle has never previously been picked for the World Cup squad. Now, however, he will pursue his first World Cup points and likely lead the speed team at the Olympics in Bormio this February. There, he aims to improve on his 29th-place result from the Saalbach World Championships.

Men’s Slalom World Cup Team

Meanwhile, Laurie Taylor and Billy Major return as Britain’s top slalom contenders. Both have earned World Cup top-10 finishes and will again aim to join Ryding in the big points. With consistent results, the team could send two or even three skiers to the World Cup Finals in Hafjell next March, where Ryding is expected to make his final start.

Women’s World Cup Team

On the women’s side, the search continues for a long-term successor to 2024 retiree Charlie Guest. Victoria Palla and Reece Bell—daughter of former British downhiller Martin Bell—have both earned World Cup squad selection for the first time. It is likely, therefore, that they will share starts depending on early-season results.

While neither has scored World Cup points yet, Bell placed 20th and Palla 23rd at last season’s World Championships. Their performances show strong potential and have cemented their status as the future of British women’s slalom.

Carrick-Smith Brothers Push for a Breakthrough Season

The Carrick-Smith brothers—Luca, Freddy, and Zak—return to the Europa Cup squad with high expectations and momentum after standout junior results.

Regarding his second selection to the team, the eldest, Luca Carrick-Smith, said: “It’s an honor to be picked for the GB squad and represent my country for another year.” He added: “I can’t wait to train hard over the summer and work hard to compete again and achieve my goals across Europe and the world for GB.”

Freddy Carrick-Smith also shared his enthusiasm. “I’m super happy to be selected again. It means a lot to me as I’ll be competing against my two brothers. It also means a lot to be representing my country in Europa Cup and possibly World Cups.”

Last season, Freddy won giant slalom gold at the European Youth Olympic Festival, while Zak Carrick-Smith earned slalom bronze in Georgia—adding to the growing reputation of the family trio.

Zak, who missed last season’s Europa Cup due to a knee injury, is now fully healthy and eager to return to racing. “It’s amazing that I’ve been selected again,” he said.

After watching his brothers compete from the sidelines, Zak is determined to make his mark. He noted he has “seen how tough it is starting quite far back and just having to climb back up the rankings.”

Guided by their parents—five-time Olympian Emma Carrick-Anderson and coach Phil Smith—the Carrick-Smith brothers continue to chase the level of success achieved by British slalom great Dave Ryding.

Butler and Gorringe Build Toward 2026

In addition to the Carrick-Smiths, Molly Butler and Giselle (“Gigi”) Gorringe round out the Europa Cup squad on the women’s side. Butler, just 18, stands out as a rising talent with long-term promise. Both athletes, meanwhile, gained valuable experience during their World Championships debuts in Saalbach.

Reflecting on her selection, Butler said: “The small squad (on the women’s side) proves it’s slimmed down a bit with how many girls there are, but we are still very strong and talented.” She also shared that she “loved the (Europa Cup) circuit last year,” adding, “Saalbach was a crazy experience” that taught her “valuable life lessons” and gave her “a glimpse into my future.”

While she avoids setting firm expectations—saying “everything will happen for a reason”—Butler has the full slalom and giant slalom Europa Cup season in her sights. She hopes to earn a World Cup start and potentially make her Olympic debut in 2026.

FIS Squad

Beyond the World Cup and Europa Cup groups, the FIS development squad reflects a long-term investment in emerging talent. Built on the recent strength of the men’s slalom program and other notable results, this team represents the future of British ski racing.

Overall Assessment

With the Milano-Cortina Olympics approaching and roster spots up for grabs, this British team could match—or even surpass—the accomplishments of past generations. Ryding will lead for one final season, but the bigger question is: Who will step forward to carry the torch into the future?